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The latest defense bill passed by Congress would prevent any U.S. president from pulling out of NATO.
Language authored by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and co-sponsored by Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fl., was placed in the sweeping defense authorization which passed Thursday.
“This is a big deal. The Constitution tells you how to get into a treaty, doesn't say how to get out of one,” Kaine said.
He says it was in response to fears that former president Donald Trump might leave the alliance, if he returns to the White House.
“The fact that President Trump has flirted with getting out of NATO, when he was president. He had advisers who said he would have done so had he had a second term,” Kaine said.
“There were continued suggestions that he might, but frankly, our commitment to NATO shouldn't be up to any particular president of either party.”
The treaty-alliance with Europe turns 75 next year. Finland and Sweden became full members this year.
Norfolk is the North American headquarters for NATO. The headquarters hosted a closed-door conference with the 31 member states in early December, where they discussed next generation tactics. The show of support comes as NATO is locked in a campaign to provide support to Ukraine, after a Russian invasion in 2022.
The new language supporting NATO comes as Senate lawmakers remain in Washington to debate a massive package to provide aid to Ukraine as well as Israel and additional provisions for the US southern border.
